Jen S.

Gene Juarez Salons & Spas

While I've never known anyone to get a bad haircut at a Gene Juarez Salon, this review is specifically for Valerie, at the Downtown Seattle location.

If you have naturally curly hair, you MUST see her! 5 years ago I had a terrible color job that burned my hair so much that I had to cut it very short (at a place in Olympia).

I went to Valerie on recommendation, and am so glad I did. She cut it into a short, sassy 'do, and from there we started growing it out. Through all the time it took to get it from very short to now past my shoulders, my hair has been cute. This is all due to Valerie's skill! I had great hair even through the awkward grow-out stage, because she really understands naturally curly hair.

Another thing I love about heris that she isn't pushy. Sometimes I just want a break when I get my hair cut. She picks up on that & doesn't try to make endless small talk & ask all kinds of personal questions like some stylists do.

Diamond Nails

An AFFORDABLE LUXURY

Besides the fact that you can't beat the prices ($25.00 for a manicure & pedicure)I like Diamond b/c I feel confident about the cleanliness. The autclave for tools is right out where you can see it & they scrub the pedicure tubswith antiseptic between each use.

Even though they advertise the same servies & prices, don't make the mistake of going to the place next door to Diamond Nails. Diamond was there first & remains the BEST!

The staff there is very nice & friendly & will remember your name after the first visit, but they won't chat your ear off if you just want to listen to your ipod or read a magazine.

For waxing & manicures, ask for Lin. For pedicures, all the staff is about equal.

Queen Anne Avenue Books

A lovely little bookstore on the top of QA Hill. The staff there is very friendly & they will even let you bring in coffee from the shop next door.

With all the chain bookstores & places like Costco & Target selling books, it is nice to still havea place to go & ask the staff for recommendations or to chat about books with.

They're a socially responsible store too, always participating in neighbor programs.

Trader Joe's

What's not to love about Trader Joe's on Upper Queen Anne? (Okay, aside from the terrible lack of parking.) The prices for wine & all kinds of gourmet food can't be beat. They have an excellent selcetion of bagged salads & veggies.

If you have food allergies or are on some sort of special diet, this is the place for you. You can find gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian selections with ease!

Upper Queen Anne Hill
Between 1st Avenue W. and 2nd Avenue W.

Mercer Mini Mart

Avoid them if you can. For one thing, they charge tax on stuff that isn't even taxable....so you know they are pocketing the difference. For another thing, one or more staff members will follow you around the stores like you are a thief. I go there every now & then & no matter if I am wearing sweat pants or a suit & heels, they treat me like they are sure I am about to shop lift :-( I've talked to others in my building, and I'm not the only one.

I'd rather walk a few extra blocks & go where I'mtreated with curtesy

Bartell Drug Stores

It's open 24 hours a day! For RX's too. You can't beat that service. Another great thing about Bartells is that they have a make-up guarantee. If you buy make-up, get it home & don't like the color, if you've saved your receipt, you can take it back!

Queen Anne Maytag

Running short on time? No washer & dryer 'cause you live in a 1920's building & tired of going down to your scary basement machines to do laundry?
Do what I do, take your stuff to the Queen Anne Maytag. Drop your stuff off on your way to work & on your way home, pick up perfectly folded & stacked clean laundry.

A friend told me about their service & I have thanked her many times over for the tip!